Published: Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 4:51 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 4:51 p.m.

VENICE - The latest proposed subdivision in what many foresee as Venice's new land rush received the support of the city's planning board on Tuesday — over the objections of some residents who fear the city is growing too much, too fast.

As expected, developer Pat Neal's Villages of Milano is attracting opposition from area residents concerned about the long-term impacts of more suburbs, especially in rural areas east of Interstate 75.

More than 40 people attended the public hearing at which the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of Neal's plan — stressing that it is less dense than current zoning for the site allows.

The City Council will have the final say.

The Villages of Milano would consist of gated communities with a total of 700 homes on 368 acres flanking the recently built Jacaranda Road extension between Laurel and Border roads.

Neal's representatives stressed that the property is now zoned for more than 1,800 homes.

“This is a significant down-zoning,” said Jeff Boone, Neal's attorney.

That decrease in potential density is a major reason why the Venice Golf and River Club Community Association endorses Neal's plan. The association comprises residents in a 1,200-home development still being built directly across Laurel Road from the Neal property.

But residents from rural areas to the east and south vehemently opposed the development.

To them, more suburbs with densities greater than five-acre homesites means significantly more people — and more people means more traffic and more demand for public services ranging from water to classrooms.

“As a taxpayer, I and fellow citizens of Venice will absorb some of the costs of this development,” resident Karen Murdock said.

She and resident Pat Wayman said the property should be rezoned to one home per five acres instead of the nearly two homes per acre Neal requested.

“I look at Border Road as a gateway to the preserves,” Wayman said, referring to several adjoining and publicly owned nature preserves to the east.

Kevin Barton of the Wildlife Nature Center of Venice wants the city to require a wide “wildlife corridor” from the Curry Creek area, through the Neal property to the preserves.

“Our parklands are becoming more and more isolated,” Barton said.

To Neal, his record as a prominent, successful homebuilder in the Sarasota-Manatee area means a period of renewed economic growth for Venice. He said his company contributes more than 700 jobs and $250 million annually to the region's economy.

Neal noted that he has other properties in the city for which he will propose developments, and that it is important for him to “get and maintain credibility” with city officials and residents now.

“We will communicate with those who support us and those who do not,” said Neal, who attended an emotionally charged Sarasota County Council of Community Neighborhood Associations forum Monday night that was highly critical of suburban growth patterns.

Representatives of Neal Communities of Southwest Florida insist the city has long anticipated annexations and more subdivisions in its northeast sector and that its proposal is less intense than what city and county land use plans have allowed.

In Sarasota County's comprehensive land use plan adopted in the early 1980s, the property was designated as part of a 1,700-acre site suitable for a “major employment center” that could have included a mix of industrial, commercial and residential uses, Boone said.

A 2005 pre-annexation agreement between the city and prior owner James Ritchey anticipated development on the cattle pasture and required Ritchey to convey land for the Jacaranda Road extension. Land was also later donated for the fire station on Laurel Road.

The city's current multi-family zoning on the site allows five homes per acre, up to 1,840 homes, with no open-space requirements.

Neal is requesting a density of less than two homes per acre with a combination of 700 single-family houses, duplexes and multifamily structures.

Roughly half of the property would be wetlands and open spaces.

City planning director Jeff Shrum said how many homes in each category Neal is likely to build will depend on market demands.

Neal said his company survived the recession because he maintained the flexibility “to change projects to respond to the economy.”

Boone said Neal Communities, not Venice taxpayers, will pay all costs associated with roads, water and sewer for the site.

Neal acquired the property for $12 million in December 2013 from CNL Bank.

<p><em>VENICE</em> - The latest proposed subdivision in what many foresee as Venice's new land rush received the support of the city's planning board on Tuesday — over the objections of some residents who fear the city is growing too much, too fast.</p><p>As expected, developer Pat Neal's Villages of Milano is attracting opposition from area residents concerned about the long-term impacts of more suburbs, especially in rural areas east of Interstate 75.</p><p>More than 40 people attended the public hearing at which the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of Neal's plan — stressing that it is less dense than current zoning for the site allows.</p><p>The City Council will have the final say.</p><p>The Villages of Milano would consist of gated communities with a total of 700 homes on 368 acres flanking the recently built Jacaranda Road extension between Laurel and Border roads.</p><p>Neal's representatives stressed that the property is now zoned for more than 1,800 homes.</p><p>“This is a significant down-zoning,” said Jeff Boone, Neal's attorney.</p><p>That decrease in potential density is a major reason why the Venice Golf and River Club Community Association endorses Neal's plan. The association comprises residents in a 1,200-home development still being built directly across Laurel Road from the Neal property.</p><p>But residents from rural areas to the east and south vehemently opposed the development.</p><p>To them, more suburbs with densities greater than five-acre homesites means significantly more people — and more people means more traffic and more demand for public services ranging from water to classrooms.</p><p>“As a taxpayer, I and fellow citizens of Venice will absorb some of the costs of this development,” resident Karen Murdock said.</p><p>She and resident Pat Wayman said the property should be rezoned to one home per five acres instead of the nearly two homes per acre Neal requested.</p><p>“I look at Border Road as a gateway to the preserves,” Wayman said, referring to several adjoining and publicly owned nature preserves to the east.</p><p>Kevin Barton of the Wildlife Nature Center of Venice wants the city to require a wide “wildlife corridor” from the Curry Creek area, through the Neal property to the preserves.</p><p>“Our parklands are becoming more and more isolated,” Barton said.</p><p>To Neal, his record as a prominent, successful homebuilder in the Sarasota-Manatee area means a period of renewed economic growth for Venice. He said his company contributes more than 700 jobs and $250 million annually to the region's economy.</p><p>Neal noted that he has other properties in the city for which he will propose developments, and that it is important for him to “get and maintain credibility” with city officials and residents now.</p><p>“We will communicate with those who support us and those who do not,” said Neal, who attended an emotionally charged Sarasota County Council of Community Neighborhood Associations forum Monday night that was highly critical of suburban growth patterns.</p><p>Representatives of Neal Communities of Southwest Florida insist the city has long anticipated annexations and more subdivisions in its northeast sector and that its proposal is less intense than what city and county land use plans have allowed.</p><p>In Sarasota County's comprehensive land use plan adopted in the early 1980s, the property was designated as part of a 1,700-acre site suitable for a “major employment center” that could have included a mix of industrial, commercial and residential uses, Boone said.</p><p>A 2005 pre-annexation agreement between the city and prior owner James Ritchey anticipated development on the cattle pasture and required Ritchey to convey land for the Jacaranda Road extension. Land was also later donated for the fire station on Laurel Road.</p><p>The city's current multi-family zoning on the site allows five homes per acre, up to 1,840 homes, with no open-space requirements.</p><p>Neal is requesting a density of less than two homes per acre with a combination of 700 single-family houses, duplexes and multifamily structures. </p><p>Roughly half of the property would be wetlands and open spaces.</p><p>City planning director Jeff Shrum said how many homes in each category Neal is likely to build will depend on market demands.</p><p>Neal said his company survived the recession because he maintained the flexibility “to change projects to respond to the economy.”</p><p>Boone said Neal Communities, not Venice taxpayers, will pay all costs associated with roads, water and sewer for the site.</p><p>Neal acquired the property for $12 million in December 2013 from CNL Bank.</p>